Facebook to be investigated over privacy concerns

Facebook is to be investigated by a privacy regulator in Ireland over how the world's biggest social network handles user data across Europe.

The Irish data protection commissioner intends to launch a wide-ranging privacy audit of Facebook outside the US and Canada after an Austria-based group called Europe Versus Facebook made 22 complaints.

Facebook is also under pressure in the US, where the Federal Trade Commission is considering a probe of the 800m member-strong social network in response to complaints from a consortium of privacy campaigners.

Gary Davis, the Irish deputy data protection commissioner, said that his office would start its detailed investigation of Facebook's activities next month.

"This audit will examine the subject matter of the complaint but also will be more extensive and will seek to examine Facebook's compliance more generally with Irish data protection law," he told the Financial Times.

As Facebook's European headquarters are based in Dublin, the company's operations outside of the US and Canada are subject to Irish and European data protection.

The majority of the complaints against Facebook refer to the collection and storage of personal information of its users.

There have been allegations that the company tracks people's internet use without their knowledge, and retains personal information which it says has been deleted.

In a statement, Facebook said: "Facebook's European headquarters in Ireland manages the company's compliance with EU data protection law.

"We are in regular dialog with the Irish data protection commissioner and we look forward to demonstrating our commitment to the appropriate handling of user data as part of this routine audit."